Doordarshan, abbreviated as DD, is India's state-owned public television broadcaster. Established by the Government of India on 15 September 1959, it is owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and constitutes one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. Doordarshan, one of India's largest broadcasting organisations in terms of studio and transmitter infrastructure, delivers television, radio, online, and mobile services across metropolitan and regional India, as well as internationally. It also broadcasts via digital terrestrial transmitters.
All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani, is India's state-owned public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and is one of the two divisions of Prasar Bharati. Headquartered at the Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi, it houses the Drama Section, FM Section, and National Service. It also serves as the home of the Indian television station Doordarshan Kendra.
The television industry in India is very diverse and produces thousands of programmes in many Indian languages. Nearly 87% Indian households own a television. As of 2016, the country had over 900 channels of which 184 were pay channels. National channels operate in Hindi and English, in addition to channels in several other languages including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese, Gujarati, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Kashmiri, Konkani and Haryanvi, among others. The Hindi, Telugu and Tamil language television industries are by far the largest television industries in India.
Satellite Instructional Television Experiment or SITE was an experimental satellite communications project launched in India in 1975, designed jointly by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The project made available informational television programs to rural India. The main objectives of the experiment were to educate the financially backward and academically illiterate people of India on various issues via satellite broadcasting, and also to help India gain technical experience in the field of satellite communications.
DD Saptagiri, previously known as DD-8, is state-owned Indian television channel operated by Doordarshan, catering to Telugu-speaking audiences in Andhra Pradesh. Originally launched in 1993 as DD-8, the channel was renamed in 2003 after the Saptagiri hills, a cultural landmark associated with the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, DD Saptagiri relocated its operations from Hyderabad to Vijayawada to serve the newly formed Andhra Pradesh, while a separate channel, DD Yadagiri, was introduced for Telangana audiences. DD Saptagiri was formally relaunched from Vijayawada on 27 September 2014.
DD National is an Indian state-owned entertainment television channel, founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is the flagship channel of Doordarshan, launched on 15 September 1959. India's public service broadcaster, and the oldest and most widely available terrestrial television channel in India.
DD Sahyadri is a Marathi TV channel. It is a regional channel dedicated to Maharashtra. It shows Marathi serials, news, films infotainment and educational programs about agriculture, healthcare, and other subjects. It is part of Doordarshan network. It is a Free-to-air channel.
DD Chennai, formerly known as DD Madras, is a state-owned television channel telecasting from Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai.
DD Punjabi is a state-owned Punjabi language TV channel, started in 1998, which is produced and telecasted from Doordarshan Kendra Jalandhar in Indian Punjab.
DD Odia is a state owned TV channel telecasting from Doordarshan, Bhubaneshwar.
DD Bangla is an Indian Bengali-language free-to-air state-owned television network owned by state-owned broadcaster Doordarshan, established on 20 August 1992. It is the successor of Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata, established on 9 August 1975. It broadcasts from Kolkata, Shantiniketan and Jalpaiguri, and is headquartered in the Golf Green neighbourhood of Kolkata.
DD Rajasthan is a state-owned TV channel telecasting from Doordarshan Kendra Rajasthan. It is to be revamped as DD Aravali soon. The proposed DD Aravali Channel will be telecasted from DDK Jaipur. It will be 24 hours channel and will be available on DTH and Cable Networks.
DD Haryana, is a state-owned TV channel, and only government-owned television production center in Haryana, telecasting from the Hisar Doordarshan Kendra in sector-13 of Hisar of Haryana state in India. DD Haryana TV Channel is now available on DD FreeDish Channel Number 98.
Doordarshan Uttar Pradesh often abbreviated as DD Uttar Pradesh is a 24-hour regional satellite TV channel primarily telecasting from Doordarshan Kendra Lucknow and is a part of the state-owned Doordarshan TV Network. Previously, it was known as DD-16 Uttar Pradesh.
Doordarshan Madhya Pradesh often abbreviated as DD Madhya Pradesh is a 24-hour regional satellite TV channel primarily telecasting from Doordarshan Kendra Bhopal and is a part of the state-owned Doordarshan television network. It was previously known as DD-11 Madhya pradesh.
Doordarshan Kendra, Jalandhar also referred as Jalandhar Doordarshan is an Indian television station in Jalandhar, owned and operated by state-owned Doordarshan, the television network of Prasar Bharati. It was established in 1979, and now produces and broadcasts the 24-hour Punjabi language TV channel, DD Punjabi, which was launched in 1998 and covers most of the state of Punjab, India.
Doordarshan Kendra, Mumbai also referred as Mumbai Doordarshan is an Indian television station in Mumbai, owned and operated by state-owned Doordarshan, the television network of Prasar Bharati. It was established on 2 October 1972, and now produces and broadcasts the 24-hour Marathi language TV channel, DD Sahyadri, which was launched in 1994 and covers most of the state of Maharashtra, India.
DD Yadagiri is a state-owned Telugu language television channel operated by India's national broadcaster Doordarshan. It is one of the 11 Indian language channels operated by Doordarshan and is telecast from Doordarshan Kendra, Hyderabad and caters the state of Telangana. The channel is named for Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple of Yadagirigutta in the state. It was launched in 2014 following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the formation of the new Telangana state.
Kaajal Oza Vaidya is an author, screenwriter, radio personality and journalist from Ahmedabad, India. She initially worked as a journalist and actress. She has written more than 56 books including novels, short stories and essays. She has written stories, dialogues and scripts of soap operas and films. She writes columns in several publications and hosts a radio show.
DD Tamil is an Indian Tamil-language state-owned public television broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by Doordarshan. It is broadcast both terrestrially and via satellite. It was established on 15 August 1975. DD Tamil launched its HD version on 19 January 2024.
